September 2011

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

THE PURPOSE OF SIGNS

As a student of the Bible, as someone called by Jesus to minister His Word of Prophecy, it's part of my job to understand the signs that God gave in His Word concerning the Rapture and Second Coming of our Lord.

Signs are useful; signs can fill us with joy and anticipation. Signs can tell us how close we are to our destination.

Signs, however, NEVER POINT TO THEMSELVES.

Signs are ALWAYS given TO POINT US and LEAD US TO something/someone else.

All the eschatological SIGNS that God gave in His Word point to ONE PERSON, and that's Jesus.

All the dreams, visions, revelations, all the stuff that's going on in the world, with "nation against nation", earthquakes, economies faltering, leadership eroding, religious deception, etc. etc. ...the signs given in Joel 2:28-32 and Revelation 6:12, ALL POINT US to Jesus Christ.

It's nice to experience SOME of the signs.

It's nice to KNOW ABOUT the signs.

It's nice, in a way, to SEE the signs happening, because they let us know He's near.

But we're NOT to FOCUS ON the signs themselves. We're to FOCUS ON Jesus.

And He's NOT "out there somewhere". He's RIGHT INSIDE YOU.

If you've given Jesus your heart, if you KNOW HIM as Lord and God, if you're born-again, you have THAT WONDERFUL, LOVELY JESUS LIVING INSIDE YOU, and He's MORE REAL than any outward sign.

He's MORE REAL THAN all the signs that point to Him. If you received Him, He's been there INSIDE YOU, ALL THE TIME. He's NEVER LEFT YOU. NEVER!!!

He's been there whether you know it or not, whether your realize it or not, whether you feel His Presence or not.

If there was EVER a time to SEEK Jesus, that time is NOW.

It's HIS APPEARING that all the signs point to.

It's HIS APPEARING that'll rapture us.

As we LOOK FOR His Appearing, let's focus on Jesus. Let's seek Him with ALL our hearts.

He's both the Author and the FINISHER OF our faith.

Signs are helpful, signs can be great or ominous, but they can't begin to compare WITH THE ONE THEY POINT TO.

Prophetic signs POINT US TO our FINAL DESTINATION:

And His Name is Jesus.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

LET THE CHILDREN

Every time we talk about the Rapture being near, there's always concern about what happens to children.

There's this damnable heresy floating around that says that ONLY children of BELIEVERS get saved or go in the Rapture.

They get their ERRONEOUS belief from a warped understanding of 1 Corinthians 7:14:

"For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy". The Greek word for "sanctified" is hagiazo WHICH MEANS to "set apart". While it's true that saved individuals are called hagios (saints), all it means is that they are SET APART unto God.

All Paul was saying is that an unbeliever is SET APART by the believing spouse, and so are children SET APART by one or two believing parents.

SET APART from what? From the world, since they would have the influence of one or more godly parents.

That's ALL he was saying.

Notice what the verse DOESN'T SAY: It DOESN'T SAY that the "unbelieving husband IS SAVED thru the believing wife" or vice versa.

Nor does it say that children are SAVED BY having believing parents. Wives CANNOT save their husbands. Husbands CANNOT save their wifes. Neither can parents SAVE their children. Salvation is AN INDIVIDUAL choice.

Those who are too young to make that choice ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD, since "it's not His Will that ANY should perish, but that ALL will come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

The FALSE TEACHING that 1 Corinthians 7:14 speaks of SALVATION is FLAT OUT DEBUNKED by Ezekiel 18:20:

"The son SHALL NOT bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son:the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him".

Now, let's see what Jesus had to say about children's Salvation:

Matthew 19:14: "But Jesus said, SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN, and forbid them not, to come unto me: FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN".

Mark 10:14,15: "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God AS A LITTLE CHILD, he SHALL NOT ENTER therein".

Matthew 18:10 "Take heed that ye despise not one OF THESE LITTLE ONES; for I say unto you, That IN HEAVEN their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven".

Matthew 18:3 "And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you,Except ye be converted, AND BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU SHALL NOT ENTER INTO the kingdom of heaven".

Luke 9:48 "And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name RECEIVES ME: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me".

Matthew 21:15,16 "And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out OF THE MOUTH OF BABES AND SUCKLINGS YOU HAVE PERFECTED PRAISE? Jesus DID NOT, at any time, say "unless you become AS LITTLE CHILDREN OF BELIEVING PARENTS you shall not enter the Kingdom of God".

So, either Jesus WAS LYING (perish the VERY THOUGHT!), OR THESE ARE JUST MISGUIDED RELIGIOUS FOOLS WHO UNDERESTIMATE THE GRACE OF GOD.

He's NOT WILLING THAT ANY should perish, but that ALL will come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17).

Joel 2:16 clearly shows that CHILDREN and babies will go in the Rapture:

"Gather the people,sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, GATHER THE CHILDREN, AND THOSE THAT SUCK THE BREASTS: let the Bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the Bride out of her closet".

O.K., "little children", now you know THE TRUTH, straight from THE TRUTH HIMSELF. Be at peace and don't listen to unbelieving morons.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

OUTPOURING

"And afterward, I will POUR OUT my Spirit ON ALL PEOPLE: YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY, your old men WILL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS. EVEN ON MY SERVANTS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

I will SHOW WONDERS in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The SUN WILL BE TURNED TO DARKNESS and the MOON TO BLOOD BEFORE the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And EVERYONE who calls on the Name of the Lord WILL BE SAVED" (Joel 2:28-32).

I have often shared based on this Scripture that thousands, if not millions of people, will cry out to Jesus, even AT THE VERY LAST moment, and be taken away in the Rapture.

They'll be saved and ESCAPE the tribulation by "the skin of their teeth".

I've also said that ANYONE who purposely takes their chances that they will do so IN THOSE FINAL MOMENTS, before the tribulation judgments begin is a fool and is playing with fire, both figuratively and LITERALLY.

The ONLY guaranteed "time" for Salvation is ALWAYS "NOW" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

I you haven't given your heart to Jesus, if you are NOT saved, if you are NOT SURE you're saved, I URGE YOU to invite Jesus into your heart, and receive Him (Salvation) RIGHT NOW: http://www.christconnection.net/id1.html

But today I want to focus on the "dreams, visions and prophesying" portion of these verses.

While we receive accounts of dreams and visions on a regular basis, this has changed recently, both IN QUANTITY and in TOPIC.

The "dreams and visions" we usually get cover different topics.

Even BEFORE we updated the Second Coming from year 2017 to 2016 (and I had not discussed that WITH A SINGLE SOUL, ONLY WITH JESUS and His Spirit) we began receiving a flurry of emails with dreams, visions and revelations ALL having to do with the Rapture.

As I've said often, we DO NOT base our beliefs on dreams and visions, but on the Word of God.

We also need a healthy degree of skepticism, with regards to such things. If I had believed EVERY "word", "prophecy", and "vision" that people claim to have received, I would have NO MINISTRY.

We don't have the time or space to include EVERY one, but I thought I'd offer a small sampling. (We've asked for and gotten their permission to publish these).

While all of us are, to some extent, fallible, I've dealt with the public in general and Christians in particular for many years, and can spot a phony A MILE AWAY.

These few are from individuals who genuinely know and love Jesus, and are in tune with His Spirit.

You're not in ANY WAY obligated to heed them.

Also, keep in mind that, even dreams and visions that COME FROM the Spirit are subject to HUMAN interpretation, which isn't always correct.

There's a precious brother named Phil, who LIVES FOR Jesus, constantly praises Jesus, and is very much in tune with His Spirit, whose born-again wife has had several dreams about the Rapture.

Lately, the Spirit has been telling him relentlessly, and he's been telling me, repeatedly, to "THINK BIG".

When I said to Phil "that SOUNDS LIKE something Jesus would say, but does He mean you or the Church?" he didn't hesitate and said "THE CHURCH".

When Phil read the timeline adjustment from 2017 to 2016, he wrote immediately, because it witnessed to his spirit. Actually, it "hit us" both at the same time: THAT'S "BIG".

And the "great multitude" that NO ONE CAN NUMBER which appears in heaven SUDDENLY and in glorified bodies at the Rapture, is also REALLY "BIG" (Revelation 7:9).

There's a wonderful sister named Robin, who loves Jesus with all her heart, who had TWO dreams.

The first: "a friend of mine and myself were walking down by this body of water it wasn't an ocean maybe like a lake or large canal...

Anyway Joe was an agnostic, he needed proof of everything, but he was like a brother to us, (we've known him for over 20 years) anyways we were walking and as I picked up my head OUT OF NOWHERE THERE WERE 2 MEN IN THE WATER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BANK BUT THEY WEREN'T REGULAR MEN they were like 11 or 12 ft tall big and big built, they were like waist deep in the water and they were dressed as in Jesus' day, they were fighting with swords and the one on my left was stabbed and fell on the bank, the one on my right turned and looked at me right in the eyes and I started crying and it wasn't from fright and I looked up at Joe and said see? I told you Jesus was real, I told you.

At that point I looked back and he had light brown hair, wavy and to his shoulders and was clean shaven no facial hair and he put one foot up on the bank and was getting out of the water and I woke up".

This scene sounds REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO Daniel 12:5-7, in which Jesus assures Daniel that Israel's time of great tribulation (which, by all scriptural indicators will begin in 2013), will last 3½ years.

The second (a week later): "In my dream I was at a store/gas station and got out to go in and it was I think late afternoon evening you know how dreams are, anyways ALL THE LIGHTS EVERYWHERE WENT OUT AND IT WAS DARK... I heard some one say look at the moon and AS I LOOKED UP IT WAS TURNING RED,and I said to the people you better get on your knees and start praying, and I remember about 4 of us got in a circle and got on our knees in the parking lot and was praying and the next thing I knew, it was awesome Martel, I JUST STARTED FEELING THIS PULLING SENSATION AND STARTED FLOATING UPWARDS I remember seeing something and someone but I don't remember what I saw, but God IT WAS THE BEST FEELING.

I woke right up after I saw whatever it was, and was in such an awesome mood and started thanking Jesus right off...

It sure is weird though to have a dream last Sat / Sun morning and the same again this week".

In the Bible, when God says something TWICE it's considered A SURE THING and something that's ABOUT TO happen:

"And this dream came to Pharaoh TWICE, because this thing is certain, and God will QUICKLY make it come about" (Genesis 41:32).

See also Daniel 2:31-45 & Daniel 7:1-14, where THE SAME prophetic events are revealed TWICE.

Then there's Stephanie, another sister very much in tune with God's Spirit. She admits that she's "only" had three visions in her entire life (I know people who wish they'd had "just one", LOL). It just "so happens" that TWO of them have been within THIS PAST YEAR.

The first, about a year ago:

"I'm not really big into visions/dreams, etc, but I know without a doubt that these two visions were absolutely from God - just beautiful.

So, a few weeks ago I was just having a casual conversation/prayer time with God. One thing led to another and I began talking about the Rapture. I was like 'Lord, if all these signs you've obviously given us are true about how close you are coming, then why haven't you taken your children home? We are so ready to be with you, Jesus.

And then, somewhat in my joking manner, I mentioned to the Lord that if He did not come soon, the food on the marriage table was going to get cold :)...

Then out of nowhere, God showed me this beautiful, beautiful vision of countless rows of long tables. I could see the beginning of each table, but not the end. Each table was decorated the same: pure white linen table cloths. All the tables were elaborately and beautifully decorated with expensive china and silver.

Then God said, 'Steph, I am lighting the candles'. And I then saw His hand lighting each candle on the tables. Praise Jesus!!!!!!!!

I've only told a few people about this, but now passing the word to encourage those so eagerly awaiting our Lord's return!!!!!! Blessings to all and see you in heaven soon"!!!!!

Her second vision, just a few days ago:

"It was a simple, precise vision, but I know without a doubt in my spirit it was from the Lord.

In my dream, I was looking down on a piece of 8-1/2x11, golden brown somewhat crinkled paper.

In the very center of the paper was a small paragraph typed in black letters. Though I couldn't read the typed paragraph, in my dream, and even now, I knew in my spirit every word was related to the rapture.

However, there were two words that stood out - NO JUMPED OUT- in bold capital letters that read......IN SEPTEMBER".

WORD OF CAUTION before everyone goes crazy: It didn't say THE YEAR, only "IN SEPTEMBER".

We are NOT predicting or prophesying anything.

The reader can determine (discern) their relevancy and application to the time we're living in, IF ANY.

God's Word says that believers are to "judge the angels" (1 Corinthians 6:3).

Jesus also said we are to "discern THE SIGNS of the times" (Matthew 16:3).

There's nothing in these dreams, visions and revelations that CONTRADICTS God's Word in any way.

The question is "do they witness to your spirit"?

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

THE JESUS WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT

There are an estimated 4 million professing Christian congregations around the world.

They all talk about Jesus to one extent or another.

Some merely present Him as a great moral teacher, philosopher or humanitarian.

Others present Him as CO-SAVIOR, along with their denomination, but not as Deity.

Still others, thank God, present Him as Lord, Savior, God and ONLY Way of Salvation.

But what all congregations in Christendom have in common is that they agree Jesus is someone whose example we should follow.

They ALL present Jesus as good, nice, sweet, gentle, loving, "turn the other cheek" meek.

But we NEVER hear about "the OTHER SIDE" of Jesus.

Yes, there's ANOTHER side to Jesus. And the "OTHER SIDE" is not always as nice and sweet as religion would portray Him to be. Am I suggesting Jesus has a "split personality"? God forbid.

What I'm saying is that OUR PERCEPTION OF HIM has been tainted by religion.

Yes, Jesus IS nice, sweet, gentle and loving. He's also FIERCE. And THAT'S THE SIDE OF JESUS religion frowns on.

THAT'S THE SIDE OF JESUS they'd just as soon SWEEP UNDER THE RUG.

THAT'S THE SIDE OF JESUS we never hear about.

They LIKE the Jesus who taught to "turn the other cheek".

They LIKE the Jesus who taught to "love your neighbor".

They LIKE the Jesus who taught to "love your enemies".

Some even like the Jesus who took their sin upon Himself and PAID the bloody price for their Redemption.

But they DON'T LIKE the Jesus who GOT ANGRY and called the religious leaders of his day "HYPOCRITES","generation of vipers", "children of hell", "blind guides","unclean", and "full of iniquity" (Matthew 23:14-33).

They DON'T LIKE the Jesus who told them, point blank, that thieves and whores would enter the Kingdom ahead of them (Matthew 21:31).

They DON'T LIKE the Jesus who GOT SO ANGRY that He made a whip out of ropes, overturned the tables of the moneychangers and religious TRAFFICKERS of His day, called them "thieves", and THREW THEM OUT OF HIS TEMPLE (John 2:15; Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15).

To put it in modern vernacular, He got pissed. (Don't look now, but about 50 holier-than-thou religionists just FAINTED)...

They DON'T LIKE the Jesus who called them out for their religious hypocrisy which focuses on the OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF godliness, but is ROTTEN on the INSIDE.

They NEVER talk or preach about THAT Jesus.

They LIKE the Jesus that is meek as a Lamb.

But they DISLIKE the Jesus that is BOLD as A LION.

But we cannot LIMIT Jesus: He's both a Lamb, and A LION.

Even the Apostle Paul, who taught more about God's Grace than any other mortal, said at one point "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of A LIVING God" (Hebrews 10:31).

The same Apostle John who portrayed Him as Love Personified in 1 John 4:16, also depicted Him as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" in Revelation 5:5, and spoke about the "FIERCENESS OF HIS WRATH" in Revelation 16:19; 19:15).

Love and anger are NOT, repeat, ARE NOT mutually exclusive.

That may be difficult for the corrupt human intellect to grasp, but the Scriptures CLEARLY indicate that they aren't. And BOTH "sides" of Jesus are about to be DISPLAYED : To His Church, to those who love Him and LONG FOR His appearing, to those who receive Him, even at the very last moment, He's about to manifest as supremely kind, gracious, saving, delivering, infinite, UNCONDITIONAL and ETERNAL LOVE. To those who hate Him, who persistently reject Him, mock Him and despise Him, to those who take pleasure in all manner of evil, He's about to manifest as CONSUMING FIRE, conquering King, and RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.

And, trust me, THAT'S THE SIDE OF Jesus you DON'T WANT TO EXPERIENCE.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

NOT TO BE CONFUSED

Unfortunately, most people confuse "religion" with "faith". Christians are just as confused by these two terms as everyone else.

Religion and faith are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

The word "religion" comes from the Latin religare which means TO BIND AGAIN.

When we're BOUND, we're in BONDAGE (slavery).

And that's EXACTLY what religion does: it engenders SLAVES.

SLAVES, who CAN'T think for themselves, seek God by themselves, worship Him by themselves, or study His Word for themselves.

SLAVES who need SOME SLAVE MASTER -- who is in bondage himself/herself -- to tell them WHEN and HOW to worship, which portions of the Bible to heed and which to shun, how to dress, speak, think, act, pray, and what they CAN'T eat.

SLAVE MASTERS who EXACT A SLAVE TAX FROM THEM, which they conveniently, AND ERRONEOUSLY, call "tithe".

All religion's EVER produced is SLAVES.

SLAVES, ruled by religious tyrants, who INVENTED religion with their carnal, CORRUPT minds.

SLAVES always live IN FEAR of NOT PLEASING their masters.

SLAVES always live IN FEAR of "being punished" if they don't PERFORM as the SLAVE MASTERS require.

That's WHY God HATES religion.

Repeat: God HATES religion.

If He just wanted a bunch of SLAVES, He would have NEVER given mankind FREE WILL (Genesis 1:26; 2:19, 20; Genesis 4:17; John 10:18; Revelation 22:17).

Faith, on the other hand, SETS PEOPLE FREE (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Faith COMES FROM God, not from man's corrupt mind.

Faith is A FRUIT OF the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

The word for "faith"pistismeans TO TRUST.

Faith TRUSTS in God's UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for His Creation.

Faith TRUSTS that God wants to SAVE US, not condemn us (John 3:17).

Faith TRUSTS that God looks at the intent and attitude of our hearts (INSIDE), and NOT at how we PERFORM on the OUTSIDE (1 Samuel 16:7).

Faith TRUSTS God's own Spirit to lead us to all the Truth, show us things to come, and to guide our worship, lifestyle, words, thoughts and actions (John 16:12).

Faith doesn't produce slaves, but SONS (Galatians 3:26).

Faith KNOWS that there's NO SUCH THING as "a wrong day" to worship God, since He must be worshipped EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF EVERY SINGLE DAY (Romans 14:5).

Faith KNOWS you don't need to congregate in a man-made building to "find God".

Faith KNOWS and TRUSTS that God's infinite Grace and Goodness provide for our needs and that His favor CAN'T BE BOUGHT (Matthew 7:11; Romans 8:32).

Faith KNOWS that THE ENTIRE BIBLE -- not just the portions we "like" or fit our pet doctrines -- is to be heeded, since IT IS WRITTEN that "man does not live by bread alone but BY EVERY WORD that proceeds out of God's mouth" (Matthew 4:4).

Faith KNOWS there is NO CONDEMNATION to those who are IN Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

Faith KNOWS that Jesus (God) is ON OUR SIDE.

Faith KNOWS He's FOR US, and NOT against us.

Faith (COMPLETE TRUST IN JESUS) leads us into Perfect Love, which CASTS OUT fear (1 John 4:18).

Religion's NEVER SAVED A SINGLE SOUL.

Faith -- COMPLETE TRUST in Jesus' PERFECT, FINISHED work of Redemption... in His Blood, death, burial and Resurrection -- IS THE ONLY THING that SAVES US (Ephesians 2:8,9).

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

IT'S NOT TOO LATE

There are many reading this message RIGHT NOW who regularly visit this site, they've heard or read the message of Salvation, they know many of the things that are prophesied in the Bible, they are SEEING some of those things UNFOLDING right before their eyes, and KNOW they must receive Jesus into their hearts.

They even sense that we're living ON THE BRINK of a paradigm shift in world systems and society as we know them.

They are, generally speaking, "good people", have some sort of MENTAL "belief in God" BUT... they're NOT SAVED.

If Jesus were to appear and take us Home today, they'd be (to coin a phrase, LOL) "LEFT BEHIND".

They've been SITTING ON THE FENCE for years, and they haven't budged.

What are you going to do, wait til all hell breaks loose and then DECIDE?

Yes, I'm talking to YOU.

What makes you so sure YOU'LL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION?

What makes you so sure YOU'LL even BE ALIVE TO make the right decision?

I'm NOT trying to scare anyone: Just trying to show the utter FOOLISHNESS of gambling with your eternal destiny.

What makes you think you'll have time to repent WHEN ONE MASSIVE JUDGMENT AFTER ANOTHER IS PILING ON?

What makes you think you'll EVEN CONSIDER receiving Jesus when someone threatens to kill you, if you don't receive the Antichrist's mark?

Some have been involved in DEAD RELIGION for years: they pray, read certain portions of the Bible, sing hymns, teach "moral" doctrine, even talk a little about Jesus, but WOULDN'T KNOW JESUS IF HE WALKED BY, LOOKED THEM IN THE EYE, SMILED AND SAID HELLO.

YOU, yes YOU, NEED TO KNOW JESUS.

YOU need to RECEIVE HIM as Lord, Savior and God.

YOU need to GIVE Him YOUR WHOLE HEART AND LIFE.

YOU need to partake of His Spirit and be BORN AGAIN.

And YOU need to do it RIGHT NOW.

If you think what's going on in the world: economies crumbling, unemployment rising, wars and insurrections, terrorism rearing its ugly face, natural calamities mounting, leadership eroding, tyrants acquiring nuclear power, millions being ravaged by disease and famine...if you think that's bad... it's A PICNIC, a walk in the park compared to what'll happen in a matter of months, and for the next 5 years or so.

STOP PROCRASTINATING and give your heart to Jesus NOW.

You'll thank me later.

It's NOT TOO LATE FOR YOU ...yet.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

THE FEASTS OF THE LORD

Leviticus chapters 23-25 describe the God-appointed feasts [moedim] that the Israelites were required to observe.

Later, during the time of the Maccabees, the festival of Hanukkah [Dedication] was added. Although there's no biblical record that God ordained this Feast, Jesus observed it (John 10:22).

In addition to these, Numbers 10:10 establishes the observance of the New Moon, which marks the beginning of each month [Rosh Chodesh].

The entire Hebrew calendar, including Rosh Hashanah, which is Rosh Chodesh Tishri, is dependent on the appearance of the New Moon in the sky verified by two reliable witnesses [Numbers 28:14; Psalms 81:3,4].

In Colossians 2:16, 17 Paul EXPLICITLY STATES that Rosh Chodesh has prophetic significance for the Church.

PERHAPS the Rapture of believers will take place on this important feast.

After the Rapture, there will be 10 "Days of Awe", where the world will be dumbstruck and the astonished Jews will repent en masse, after seeing the resurrected Jesus appearing in the clouds.

This, along with the appearance of the Two Witnesses, will trigger the building of the third temple.

Though there's no harm in so doing, Christians are not required to observe these feasts. Their relevance to us today is mainly prophetic.

These festivals are called mikra ey kodesh, or "holy convocations". The Hebrew word for "convocation" [mikra]also means "meeting" or "rehearsal".

The Feasts are symbolic representations of God's unfolding plan of Redemption. God wanted His people to REHEARSE these things, over and over, year after year, so their meaning would be so ingrained in them that, when their final fulfillment took place, they'd recognize it, and be prepared for it.

Jesus perfectly fulfilled all the Spring Feasts in His First Coming: He died on Passover [John 13:1,28,39; 19:14], was buried on Unleavened Bread, Rose on First Fruits, [1 Corinthians 15:20] and sent His Holy Spirit to indwell His Church on Pentecost [Acts 2:1-4].

It stands to reason, therefore, that He will also fulfill the Fall Feasts in His Second Coming.

His Second Coming will take place on Rosh Hashanah, the trumpet of Jubilee will sound on Yom Kippur, Jews hiding in the desert will probably return to Jerusalem, led by their Messiah, during Tabernacles. The millennial Temple will be raised and inaugurated on Hanukkah.

It is therefore incumbent upon Christians to be familiar with these Feasts, as they foretell our gathering unto Him, and Jesus' triumphant return.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

PROPHET VS. TEACHER

Most of our readers are VERY gracious and supportive. And I want to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

I thought this might be a good time to explain the difference between a PROPHET and a Bible TEACHER.

Bible TEACHERS base their TEACHING solelyon the WRITTEN Word of God, the Bible.

God NEVER contradicts Himself.

While some of us rely VERY HEAVILY on the Holy Spirit to illuminate and reveal His written Word, such revelation will always CONFORM TO the WRITTEN TEXT.

That's what I do: base my teachings on His written Word.

I have NEVER, EVER -- IN MY ENTIRE LIFE -- called myself "a prophet".

You can check every message I've preached, every thing I've written... you can check this website from one end to the other... I have NEVER CLAIMED to be a prophet.

In fact, I have A COUPLE OF DISCLAIMERS on the website where I SPECIFICALLY SAY that I DON'T call myself by that presumptuous title.

Matter of fact, I'm comfortable and confident enough of Jesus' calling on my life to forego ALL titles and worldly credentials.

I KNOW (Jesus be eternally praised) who I am IN Christ, and don't need some fancy, man-invented religious title to validate my ministry or calling.

I'm now RELUCTANTLY appropriating the title "Bible teacher" simply for the sake of explaining, as clearly as possible, what it is the Lord called me to do.

I'm first and foremost A SOUL WINNER.

Just a HUMBLE Bible teacher, called personally by Jesus to minister His Word of Prophecy as "it is WRITTEN".

I TEACH what is WRITTEN IN the Bible. While much of it relates to prophecy, I also address MANY OTHER biblical topics, which you've doubtlessly read about in "Word 4 Today".

Every teaching is based on His inerrant Word and meticulously supported by corresponding Bible verses.

In fact, I've been accused by more than one person of being a "Bible thumper", which I take as a great compliment.

Although, by His Grace, 99.9% of these teachings are correct, I'm NOT infallible and have NEVER CLAIMED TO BE.

In fact, this is THE ONLY ministry I know of, ANYWHERE, that has AN OPEN INVITATION for ANYONE - theologian, minister, layperson, unbeliever, or atheist - to CHALLENGE these teachings based on the Scriptures.

I have said, FROM DAY ONE, that if ANYONE can DISPROVE these teachings WITH THE BIBLE, I'll retract them, issue a public apology, and GIVE THAT INDIVIDUAL FULL CREDIT for the correction.

Of course, when someone tries to IMPOSE their beliefs, or COERCE me to change based on ANYTHING OTHER THAN the Bible (their biased personal opinion, their denomination's biased theology, what some fallible mortal has said or written, or some "selective" or OUT OF CONTEXT distortion of the Scriptures) they will get, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, ripped to shreds. Indeed, you've witnessed with your own eyes, the TOTAL TRANSPARENCY of this ministry, and how the revelation from God's written Word has evolved:

First, by hitting me with the Revelation that Daniel 9:25 predicts both the first AND SECOND comings of Messiah.

Then by revealing the SECOND rebuilding of Jerusalem...

And, most recently, by REFINING IT with more specific details, and backing them up with Scripture.

Prophets, on the other hand, PREDICT STUFF that is NOT WRITTEN IN the Bible. Prophets are those who claim to have heard DIRECTLY FROM God, and who, IN GOD'S NAME PREDICT specific, extrabiblical things that are NOT WRITTEN in the Scriptures.

For instance, someone who PREDICTS that a big earthquake will take place, within a certain time period, at a specific location, IS PROPHESYING, since there's no place in the Bible that says "a 6.8 magnitude earthquake will take place at (city or country) in 2011".

THAT would be PROPHESYING.

True prophets, according to Deuteronomy 18:17-22,ALWAYS get it right. Conversely, Bible teachers CAN make mistakes, not intentionally, of course, but because we're human and our understanding of the Scriptures can get clouded and be somewhat MISCONSTRUED BY our natural minds.

So, there's a HUGE difference between TEACHING Bible prophecy, as WRITTEN in God's Holy Word, and PROPHESYING something NOT WRITTEN in God's Word.

There's A LOT of confusion about this topic in the Body of Christ.

Hopefully, this will clear it up.

What I've written in the past couple of days IS NOT, repeat, IS NOT "prophesying".

I WAS NOT "prophesying" ANYTHING.

What I did is TEACH, to the best of my current knowledge and understanding, what God - not I - prophesied in His WRITTEN Word. You, by the way, are NOT in any way, shape or form OBLIGATED to receive it.

You have God-given FREE WILL to accept or reject ANY of these teachings. If you're born-again, and your spirit DOES NOT bear witness to these teachings, BY ALL MEANS REJECT THEM.

If you find that they CONTRADICT the Scriptures IN ANY WAY, REJECT THEM.

If you have SOLID, UNBIASED, BIBLICAL evidence to the contrary, I'd love to hear it.

And I DON'T WANT TO get emails from ANYONE saying "I quit my job", or "sold everything", or "got rid of all my possessions" on account of this teaching, BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER TOLD ANYONE to do so. ANYONE who quits their job in the midst of economic recession is both, A FOOL, and TEMPTING GOD(Matthew 4:7).

In fact, I've SPECIFICALLY STATED that you are to OCCUPY, and continue living your NORMAL, everyday life.

I HAVEN'T quit my day job, and neither should you.

Can't be any clearer.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

WHEN, OH WHEN?

Since THE WORD from Israel's Prime Minister to "return and build" biblical Jerusalem was given in June, 1967 then the Second Coming must happen in 2016, not 2017, since there's NO WAY of getting "7 sevens" or 49 years from 1967 to 2017.

There are, however, 50 YEARS from 1967 to 2017.

Therefore, what does happen IN THE SPRING of 2017 is the Kingdom of Jesus on earth, the Millennium, officially BEGINS. More detail on that in a later message.

How does this affect the Rapture? It makes it SOONER than expected.

If the Second Coming happens in the fall of 2016, then the reign of Antichrist, which the Scriptures UNEQUIVOCALLY tell us lasts 42 months or 3½ years, (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 3:5) must begin on or about April 1, 2013.

Antichrist MUST APPEAR, resurrected from the dead, BEFORE April 1, 2013, since he must first reintroduce himself to the world, make a big brouhaha about his resurrection, gain popular support, form a political alliance, put together an army, and fight several wars against Egypt, Turkey/Syria, Iran and Israel (Daniel 11:40-44).

His 3½-year reign officially begins, according to Daniel 12:7 when the "power of the holy people (Israel) is shattered".

All that takes TIME... All that has to take AT LEAST 6 months... That means he would have to reappear NO LATER THAN November 2012.

BEFORE he even reappears, THE TRIBULATION MUST BEGIN and 6 trumpet judgments MUST have taken place. The 5th trumpet judgment, ALONE, lasts 5 months (Revelation 9:5). Therefore, the trib judgments must take AT THE VERY LEAST 8 months, probably a little longer. That takes us to THE BEGINNING OF 2012.

Since the Rapture takes place BEFORE the trib judgments begin, that means, brothers and sisters, that our Departure MUST be AT HAND.

There's a VERY HIGH probability that it will happen in the remainder of THIS YEAR.

Indeed, it COULD happen during, between or AFTER the High Holy Days in the Hebrew calendar coming up (Rosh, Yom or Sukkot).

I'm not going to speculate as to an EXACT day.

And neither are you.

Please, please, please DO NOT bombard me with emails giving me SPECIFIC dates and SPECULATIVE REASONS as to WHY it will happen ON THAT SPECIFIC DAY. Every one of those SPECIFIC DAYS that has been sent to me in the past HAS BEEN WRONG.

And they'll be wrong this time, too. Jesus said NO ONE knows THE EXACT day (Matthew 24:36). I freely admit I don't know it, and neither do you.

So, fair warning to all the would-be experts: You'll be wasting your time because your email will be ignored and deleted.

I'm more than SATISFIED and REJOICE in knowing it's THAT CLOSE: I await with great excitement and eager anticipation.

In light of the above, for the FIRST TIME EVER, I'm removing one of the Myths (#53), about the Rapture NOT happening on Rosh Hashanah.

I'm NOT saying that it will happen on that Feast, but it COULD and MIGHT. Or, as indicated above, it could be later.

The Bottom Line's this: Time has RUN OUT.

There's VERY LITTLE leeway left. Our days on this planet are NUMBERED.

Jesus MUST appear and take us Home VERY, VERY, VERY SOON.

If, by any chance, it does not happen in the remainder of 2011, then (as I stated in a previous message) IT WOULD HAVE TO occur in the first half of 2012, AT THE VERY, VERY, VERY LATEST.

But, frankly, THAT now seems a VERY REMOTE possibility. If it happened then, I don't see HOW you could squeeze all the events that must happen before Antichrist begins to reign in such little time.

So, we have two possible scenarios... one where Jesus returns in 2016, the other in 2017.

Right now, the 2016 scenario seems to have the upper hand.

The tables have turned, and the PROBABILITY of us leaving before the end of 2011 seems VERY likely.

The Word of God WILL BE fulfilled.

There's NO MORE TIME left.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

SWEET SURPRISE

May I have your attention, please? I'm about to CONTRADICT myself.

I'm about to do a 180 on something I said earlier, namely, that the Rapture would PROBABLY NOT happen this year, but the next.

I hate to disappoint some of you but Jesus and His Holy Spirit come FIRST, and I will obey His promptings, if I have to contradict myself 10,000 times.

Well couldn't He have given me this revelation BEFORE I wrote the message entitled "NOT THIS YEAR" on 8/7/11?

Sure. He COULD HAVE.

WHY He didn't, I don't know and, frankly, DON'T CARE.

He's God. He's sovereign. He can do WHATEVER He wants WHENEVER He wants, and His TIMING is ALWAYS PERFECT.

As I shared with you recently, MENTALLY I've known for quite some time that the "word" to return and build Jerusalem, as Daniel 9:25 requires, was given sometime between 1967 -1969.

The reason I opted for the April 1, 1969 date was because it was the most "official" decree I could find on the matter and, also, because ACTUAL RECONSTRUCTION of the Quarter began shortly thereafter. 1969 was also the LATEST year that could be construed as the "word" being given.

I didn't want to run the risk of picking the EARLIEST date and then being disappointed.

However, the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me on this for quite some time and, most recently, REALLY HIT MY CONSCIOUSNESS with the fact it happened EARLIER than 1969.

Matter of fact He so impressed me with this fact recently, that I haven't been able to think of MUCH ELSE since.

I know from previous experiences with the Spirit that when He impresses me LIKE THAT and the impression LINGERS LIKE THAT, and obsesses me LIKE THAT, that not only is it true, but THERE'S BIG REVELATION BEHIND IT.

And when He BACKS IT UP WITH SCRIPTURE, then I KNOW we're really on to something.

There's a BIG DIFFERENCE between simply assimilating something MENTALLY and getting the Spirit REVELATION of it, where He just opens up the written Word and makes us "see".

Jesus told Daniel that one of the signs the great tribulation is approaching would be that "knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4).

He also stated that these things would remain "sealed" UNTIL the time of the end: Then, and only then, would they be FULLY understood by "the wise" (Daniel 12:4, 9, 10).

As I told you before, the closer we get to "the time of the end", THE MORE KNOWLEDGE we should all expect.

I said all that to say this: The Lord has both impressed me, and SHOWN ME IN HIS WORD in recent days, that ALL that was needed to fulfill this prophecy was A WORD from the man at the top, so to speak.

He took me back to the Book of Nehemiah and, sure enough, ALL that was needed for the FIRST part of this prophecy, leading to the FIRST appearance of Messiah Prince, was THE WORD OF King Artaxerxes of Persia.

There was no deliberating body, like the Knesset, and NO VOTE taken. So, why would ANY OF THAT be required THIS TIME?

The answer is: it's NOT.

The "WORD" from former Prime Minister David Ben Gurion came THE DAY AFTER Jerusalem was recovered by Israel, on June 8, 1967. His successor, Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, also gave a similar word in 1967.

Within days of recovering Jerusalem, as early as June 19, 1967, Arabs were being evicted from the Jewish Quarter and rubble was being removed to clear the streets and provide access.

Within days, basic living conditions (water, sewage, electricity, broken windows, and doors) were being restored and Jews were MOVING IN.

The "word" had been given, from the top, to "RETURN AND BUILD".

While it's true that MAJOR rebuilding did not begin until 1969, the same thing happened in Nehemiah's time.

Artaxerxes gave the word, in the month of Aviv (Nisan) in the 20th year of his reign (Nehemiah 2:1).

Nehemiah set out for the Holy Land, arrived in Jerusalem, inspected the damage for three days, then he and the men that accompanied him (that RETURNED with him) began rebuilding the wall, which took 52 days (Nehemiah 6:16).

They made certain repairs FIRST, then began MOVING IN and LIVING IN Jerusalem, BEFORE the city itself was rebuilt (Nehemiah 7:4; 11:1-3).

Except for having to rebuild the wall, that's EXACTLY they way it happened in 1967-1969:

They began to make basic repairs first, restoring access and utilities, then moving into the Quarter, THEN plans were drawn, archeological sites designated, then there was an OFFICIAL Knesset vote to appropriate funds for the reconstruction and so forth, then actual MAJOR reconstruction began.

Do you realize what this means? If the word was given in 1967, instead of 1969, it's a WHOLE NEW BALLGAME time wise.

THIS is Good News!!!

I'll share the new timeline with you on the next message.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

"BIBLICAL PROOF"

Against my better judgment, I recently clicked on a YouTube video that CLAIMED to provide "biblical proof" about the identity of the Antichrist.

I watched for about two minutes, long enough to learn that the imbecile who made this video believes that Islam is the Antichrist and Mohammed the false prophet.

There's no question that the religion of Islam IS anti-Christ (small "a") and there's no question that Mohammed WAS a false prophet.

But they're not THE Antichrist or THE False Prophet the Book of Revelation speaks of.

The "biblical proof" consisted of Matthew 24:26, 27:

"So if someone tells you, 'He's in the desert!' don't go out [looking for Him]. And don't believe anyone who says, 'He's in the secret place!' The Son of Man will come again just as lightning flashes from east to west".

Do you see the Antichrist mentioned AT ALL in these verses?

Of course not!

They're talking about the return of Jesus, not about Antichrist.

Yet, according to this individual, the phrase "behold, He is in the desert" PROVES the Antichrist is Islam and the false prophet was Mohammed since he invented and spread his false religion from THE DESERT in Saudi Arabia.

Ordinarily, I wouldn't waste your time, or mine, on such foolishness, but here's a perfect example of how prophecy myths are concocted and spread.

Apparently, this moron, who knows nothing about prophecy or Scripture (let alone geography) and can't even READ, thinks THE ONLY DESERT in the Middle East is in Saudi Arabia.

I guess he's never heard of DESERTS in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Yemen or Oman.

Even if that were true, it still wouldn't explain how this passage applies to the Antichrist or the False Prophet, since it's CLEARLY REFERRING TO THE RETURN OF CHRIST.

CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT...

If we take the Bible OUT OF context, we can MAKE IT "say" ANYTHING WE WANT. How do you think EVERY SINGLE CULT in existence got started?

The YouTube idiot was taking these verses TOTALLY out of context.

IN CONTEXT, Jesus was speaking to His fellow Jews, who LIVED IN Judea (Matthew 24:16), NOT Saudia Arabia, and who would be hiding IN THE DESERT, which is the Negev in southern Israel, near the border with Jordan, to escape the Antichrist's persecution.

This is clearly what Matthew 24:15-20 and Revelation 12:6, 14 teach.

He's merely telling them to STAY PUT and not be tricked into coming out of hiding, by anyone announcing "look, the Messiah's in the desert (Negev)", or, "look, He's in the secret chamber" of the temple.

He wasn't talking about Antichrist, and Saudi Arabia's NOT MENTIONED AT ALL in the entire chapter.

Matter of fact, when Jesus uttered those words Mohammed had not even been born, and the religion of Islam DID NOT EVEN EXIST.

What we have here is a proverbial case of "the blind leading the BLINDER".

Yet, you should have read the admiring comments and accolades this dumbass received from EVEN DUMBER, Bible illiterates.

How can something be "biblical" IF IT'S NOT FOUND IN the Bible???

There have always been deceivers, but Matthew 24:4 applies uniquely to THIS generation.

DO NOT ASSUME that because someone CLAIMS to have "biblical proof", they're telling the truth or that it REALLY IS biblical.

DO NOT ASSUME because someone mentions the Name of Jesus, or calls themselves "Christian", that they're telling the truth.

Religious scammers don't just run rampant on Kristian TV; they've also taken cyberspace by storm.

DO NOT ASSUME because someone "quotes Scripture" that they're QUOTING IT CORRECTLY, OR THAT IT REALLY MEANS WHAT THEY CLAIM IT MEANS.

Unless some passage in Scripture CLEARLY STATES what the person claims, IT'S NOT "PROOF"!!!

If something's NOT supported by CONTEXTUAL reading of the Scriptures, IT'S NOT BIBLICAL!!!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

ISRAEL IN DANGER

Since Bible prophecy revolves almost entirely around what happens in and to Jerusalem, it's part of my job, as Bible and prophecy teacher, to keep a close eye on what happens to the State of Israel and, in particular, to the Holy City.

There have been some developments in recent days which, from a natural perspective, are troubling, but from a spiritual and biblical perspective are to be expected.

First there were the flotillas, which claimed to be carrying aid to Palestinians in Gaza, when in reality they were smuggling weapons, and even attacked Israeli coast guards who tried to prevent their illegal entry into their ports.

This, in turn, has caused a rift in relations between Israel and Turkey, since the latter demanded an "apology" from Israel for protecting their own coastline, which Israel isn't about to give.

As a result, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador, and the two nations are at a diplomatic impasse.

The so-called "Arab Spring" has also impacted Israel in various ways.

Tyrants facing popular protests demanding their removal, try to deflect the focus and anger from themselves and their oppressive regimes by shifting it toward Israel, inflaming the masses with all sorts of anti-Semitic rhetoric.

It doesn't take much, to put it mildly, to instigate the Arab world against the Jews.

Syria's Assad and Jordan's Hussein are the two most obvious examples.

There have been mob assaults against Israel's embassies in Cairo and Amman, demanding the removal of the Israeli flag and an END to all diplomatic relations, as well as their respective peace agreements. This may all come as a surprise to the clueless U.S. Administration, but not to anyone with half a brain who knows anything about the Middle East.

Fact is, with all his character flaws, at least Mubarak was an ally who kept things in check.

The new Egyptian government, controlled in large part by the radical, so-called Islamic Brotherhood, is virulently anti-Israel - the Egyptian population has been that way ALL ALONG - and it appears that even the massive amount of dollars given to Egypt (about 1.5 BILLION a year) by the U.S. won't be able to BUY the peace.

Same goes for Jordan, which receives around HALF A BILLION just to leave Israel alone.

Don't kid yourselves into thinking that the "peace agreements" with Egypt at Camp David, and the subsequent "peace agreement" with Jordan came because their leaders or people genuinely want peace. They were BOUGHT and PAID FOR by the United States, with YOUR tax dollars, thank you very much.

Finally, there's the impending Palestinian bid for statehood this month before the United Nations.

127 countries around the world, to their own detriment, have already voiced their support and recognition of a Palestinian State, based on pre-1967 borders, meaning they view East Jerusalem, including the EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT Jewish Quarter, as "illegally occupied" by Israel.

This CANNOT be good.

Add to all this that Israel is already hemmed in by Hezbollah in Lebanon, on the north, and by Hamas, which occupies Gaza, in the south, and which regularly fire rockets into Israel, just hoping to randomly kill, destroy, maim or harm...

Tiny Israel is becoming more and more isolated.

It's not hard to envision a time in the near future, when the United States will no longer exert any influence or BUY the artificial peace, and when Zechariah 12:1-3 will come to pass:

"The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel... Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling TO ALL THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT, when they shall be IN THE SIEGE both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem A BURDENSOME STONE FOR ALL PEOPLE: ALL THAT BURDEN THEMSELVES WITH IT SHALL BE CUT IN PIECES, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it".

Of course, we know that Antichrist will eventually take Jerusalem and all Israel, divide the land for gain, and desecrate the temple.

We also know that Messiah will return 42 months from the day that happens, to rescue Israel and Jerusalem, defeat the Antichrist, and bring ALL Israelites back into the land He gave them as everlasting inheritance.

When we put this together with ALL THE OTHER STUFF going on in the world... ineffective leadership, economies teetering on the edge of depression, high unemployment, wars and insurrections, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, natural disasters, and religious deception...

One has to be dumb, deaf and blind NOT TO realize how Bible prophecy is being fulfilled, right before our eyes.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

TORAH OBSERVANT

I've never liked clichés and religious ones I JUST FLAT OUT DETEST.

There's this disturbing trend in so-called Messianic Judaism of BOASTING (that's what it really IS) about being "torah observant", as if somehow such claim made people better, more spiritual, more righteous, or just plain morally superior to everyone else.

Those who claim to be T.O. also emphasize their worshipping on the Sabbath (Saturday), as if somehow THAT made them better or "holier".

Their self-righteous attitude is A STENCH in the Lord's nostrils.

There's NO RIGHTEOUSNESS BUT HIS.

We have no righteousness of our own (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10; Psalm 14:1; Psalm 143:2).

Furthermore, THEY'RE LYING.

NO ONE besides the Lord Yeshua has EVER been "torah observant".

NO ONE besides Him has EVER kept the law.

Israelites HAD IT but NEVER kept it. Nor do they keep it today, no matter how much they may CLAIM to.

Had they kept it, they wouldn't have needed animal sacrifices TWICE A DAY, EVERY DAY, TO ATONE FOR THEIR SINS.

And if they kept it today, they'd be SINLESS and wouldn't need Yeshua. He came to FULFILL the torah (His own Law) on behalf of those who put their faith (trust) in Him (Matthew 5:17).

When we receive Yeshua into our hearts as Lord, Savior and God, He credits His own Righteousness, His own, perfect fulfillment of the torah TO US, by Grace (2 Corinthians 5:21).

And THAT'S the ONLY righteousness any of us will ever have: namely, HIS righteousness.

I attended a Messianic Jewish congregation and was baptized in water, as an adult, by a Messianic Rabbi.

However, we believed in Salvation by sheer Grace, thru faith WITHOUT ANY WORKS and WITHOUT the RELIGIOUS ARROGANCE of CLAIMING to be "torah observant".

We worshipped on Saturday, but WE DID NOT worship Saturday; and there's a HUGE DIFFERENCE.

In fact there isn't ONE Scripture in the ENTIRE Bible, Old or New Testaments, that commands ANYONE to worship on the Sabbath, and I dare ANY legalistic Jew or gentile to produce JUST ONE.

Sabbath worship was NEVER practiced by Israelites.

Sabbath worship became a Jewish CUSTOM during the Babylonian captivity.

Sabbath worship was NEVER a commandment.

What the 4th commandment requires is that Israelites abstain from ALL WORK and REST.

They were NOT TO congregate or go anywhere, or hold any religious services, but to STAY HOME AND REST (Exodus 20:8-10).

These individuals have turned the Sabbath itself INTO AN IDOL. They CLAIM to be "observing" the 4th commandment when, in reality, THEY'RE NOT.

What they're doing is VIOLATING THE FIRST COMMANDMENT (Exodus 20:3).

"For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later ABOUT ANOTHER DAY;

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for ANYONE WHO ENTERS GOD'S REST also RESTS FROM HIS OWN WORK, just as God did from his" (Hebrews 4:8-10).

In Colossians 2:16, 17 Paul calls the weekly Sabbath "a shadow". It was merely a shadow of THE SPIRITUAL REST we have when WE TRUST (REST) CONFIDENTLY in WHAT YESHUA ha Moschiach DID FOR US, and NOT in what WE DO OURSELVES.

Those who COMPLETELY TRUST His FINISHED, PERFECT work of Redemption ...Those who trust His precious Blood, His death, burial and Resurrection, automatically get HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. ... And there is NO OTHER.

Messianics and legalists need to STOP trusting WHAT THEY DO,and stop bragging about how "torah observant" they are and how much and how well they "keep" the weekly Sabbath, and TRUST in the TRUE, ETERNAL Sabbath Yeshua Adonai. He's the ONLY ONE who can really give us REST.

"Come unto me, all you that LABOR (WORK) and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST" (Matthew 11:28).

I advise ALL OF THEM to read the parable of the publican and the Pharisee (who also CLAIMED to be "torah observant") in Luke 18:9-14 and repent of their pharisaical mindset and heart.

We CANNOT be saved by both Grace and works. It's ONE or THE OTHER (Romans 11:6).

His Grace IS SUFFICIENT (2 Corinthians 2:9).

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

IF THE SHOE FITS

Oh - my - God... Did yesterday's message open up a can of worms !

I was ready to move on, but in view of the reaction - and we haven't even gotten thru all the emails yet - it really TOUCHED A NERVE.

Now let me address some of the issues raised:

1. That the reason Christians search for religious gimmicks (THAT'S exactly what they ARE) on TV or the internet is because they are "hungry for God".

BALONEY!

If they WERE "hungry for God", they would SEEK God DIRECTLY by SPENDING TIME WITH HIM, TALKING TO HIM, IN INTIMATE COMMUNION WITH HIM, AND LISTENING TO HIM.

If they WERE "hungry for God", they would read, study and MEDITATE His Word, instead of running all over cyberspace looking for some religious novelty.

If they WERE "hungry for God", they would KNOW Him and His Word well enough TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN Truth and myth.

If they WERE "hungry for God", wolves would NOT be able to pull the wool over their eyes (no pun intended) SO EASILY.

If they WERE "hungry for God", they would seek and get answers FROM GOD HIMSELF, instead of running into "Christian" bookstores to BUY EVERY PIECE OF CRAP Bible illiterates INVENT then SELL YOU.

They would TREASURE WHAT HE SAID instead of seeking answers from Kristian websites and videos.

So please take that RIDICULOUS EXCUSE elsewhere.

Tell that to someone who believes you. I've been in ministry FAR TOO LONG, read and answered too many emails, and ministered to too many one-on-one, to buy your phony excuse.

I was chuckling and commenting to someone on my staff how the 20% who ARE grounded on the Word, who ARE WHOLEHEARTEDLY COMMITTED TO CHRIST didn't write in, because THEY KNOW WHERE THEY STAND, hence they KNOW that message doesn't apply to them.

The ones who reacted as if someone had stuck a needle into their heinies, did so BECAUSE THEY KNOW, DEEP INSIDE, that THEY'RE the people I'm talking about, and were pricked in their conscience.

I SHOULD HAVE said (and I'm SORRY I didn't - please accept my apologies) that yesterday's message WASN'T intended for NEW Christians.

Therefore, what I said DOES NOT apply to those who've RECENTLY come to Christ. By "recently" I mean three years or less.

I'm talking about people who have been "Christian" for many, many years, and who are ADDICTED TO religious entertainment, and care little or nothing about whether it conveys Truth or not.

That's THE MINDSET that religious networks and religious programming have created and cultivated, and which in turn has generated a financial bonanza for the Kristian recording and publishing industries.

Kristian networks and programmers ARE THE PRIMARY CULPRITS for the spineless, gutless weaklings, the spiritual anorexics, which pervade Christendom.

2. I'm NOT telling anyone NOT TO use the internet, or NOT TO watch Kristian TV.

By the way, provided you're born-again, YOU WILL "avoid hell" and be somewhat entertained by the religious establishment. I just think Jesus DESERVES A LOT BETTER.

3. That I bash others.

The ONLY ONES I "bash" -- and do so UNAPOLOGETICALLY -- are the HERETICS.

I make no bones about the fact that Joseph Smith, Ellen White, Charles Taze Russell, William Campbell and Herbert W. Armstrong WERE heretics who INVENTED false doctrine that leads people to hell.

I have never bashed Catholics or Evangelicals, nor criticized SPECIFIC individuals in those groups, except one time when I did a tongue-in-cheek message on the "R.I.P Awards".

God got on my case about it, and I issued A PUBLIC APOLOGY shortly thereafter to all those I made fun of.

As far as I'm concerned TBN just crossed the line into promoting heresy by embracing and legitimizing Mormon recruiter Beck, which in turn, made them fair game.

4. That, they "mean no harm" and "really love" Jesus.

Oh, yeah? When was the last time you SHARED HIM with someone?

When was the last time you BRAGGED ABOUT the close relationship you have with Him?

When was the last time you told them HOW WONDERFUL He is?

When was the last time YOU WON someone TO Christ?

I rest my case.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

ITCHING EARS

For the time will come when men WILL NOT PUT UP WITH sound doctrine: Instead, TO SUIT THEIR OWN DESIRES, they will gather around them A GREAT NUMBER OF TEACHERS TO SAY WHAT THEIR ITCHING EARS WANT TO HEAR (2 Timothy 4:3).

Truer words have never been spoken.

Ministry can be VERY frustrating.

For the most part, I don't mind answering the many questions that come in, even when the same question is asked time and again.

What I do mind is the prevailing attitude among Christians.

You would think that, when someone reads The Truth, when someone finds TRUE, SOLID, BIBLICAL teaching and revelation somewhere... that they would stick to it, meditate on it, until it became rooted in their hearts and minds, and they became FIRMLY ESTABLISHED on that truth.

Unfortunately, that's NOT what I see in 80% of Christians.

They read GREAT TRUTHS on this website, (to Jesus be ALL THE GLORY NOW AND FOREVER) like the TRUE, PROVEN, BIBLICAL identity of the Antichrist, or IRREFUTABLE proof of the pre-trib Rapture, or the God-given revelation of the EXACT YEAR of Jesus' Second Coming, or the CLEAR, UNEQUIVOCAL presentation of the Gospel of Grace... but IT ISN'T ENOUGH.

They see BIBLICAL PROOF of the many myths that are circulated as "biblical prophecy" when in fact, they're NOT EVEN FOUND IN the Bible...

Some even write complimenting this ministry and saying how much they've "learned" from it.

Yet it all seems to go in one ear and out the other.

Those same people will write a week later or a month later, about some OTHER site they visited, some blog they read, some free for all "Christian" forum filled with ignoramuses, or some video they watched, WHICH FLAT OUT CONTRADICTS the Bible, FLAT OUT CONTRADICTS our teaching, and ask about it LIKE THEY NEVER EVEN HEARD it before.

Others take it a step farther by TAKING THE OPPOSING SIDE and questioning OUR teaching.

That, in turn, clearly shows that NO SOONER HAVE THEY READ THESE TRUTHS, they immediately become "bored" with them, and rather than meditating on them, and allowing them to penetrate and settle in their hearts, they immediately GO AFTER SOME "NEW" FORM OF RELIGIOUS ENTERTAINMENT to tickle their fickle hearts and ears.

They write about some FALSE DOCTRINE they've encountered like it's some sort of "NEW", "STARTLING" revelation, when it's TOTALLY CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD.

It's both frustrating and disheartening.

I don't mind being challenged based on the Scriptures. But I do mind when the challenge ISN'T based on God's Word but on UNBIBLICAL SPECULATION.

It makes us feel like all our work, all our study, all our meditating, all our intercession, all the Spirit given revelation we share, and all the time, energy and expense we incur in getting it out there, is FOR NOUGHT.

I can't speak for any other Bible based ministry, but I can tell you IT FRUSTRATES THE HELL OUT OF ME.

Christians today have little or NO DISCERNMENT.

Lack of discernment stems from TWO major problems:

1. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE of the Scriptures.

2. LACK OF COMMUNION WITH the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gave us His very own Spirit to be our teacher and guide, to lead us INTO ALL Truth (John 16:13).

Yet Christians who HAVE that Holy Spirit LIVING in them, TOTALLY IGNORE HIM.

They never commune with Him, never ask for His guidance, or even His OPINION.

His opinion, by the way, is THE ONLY ONE that COUNTS.

They're CONSTANTLY SEARCHING for some "new", fanciful, prophecy related religious INVENTION and don't give a hoot whether it's even SUPPORTED BY the Scriptures.

As Paul so perfectly described them, they're "ever learning but NEVER COMING TO THE KNOWLEDGE of the Truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).

There's NOTHING and NO ONE in this world more important than THE WORD OF GOD.

Jesus IS the Word of God... incarnate.

He LEFT US His written Word, the Holy Bible, a manifestation of His Own Self, TO TREASURE, STUDY and MEDITATE.

It's taken the BLOOD of Jesus Himself, plus the blood of MANY of His martyrs, to get that Word to us.

Yet most Christians seem TOTALLY UNINTERESTED.

They'd rather hear what some child of Satan says it says... some sinful mortal's CARNAL, self-serving "interpretation", or the figment of some idiot's whimsical imagination, THAN HEAR DIRECTLY FROM GOD HIMSELF.

They'd rather believe what some stupid YouTube video says the Bible says that tickles their fancy, THAN WHAT JESUS ACTUALLY SAID.

They're NOT interested in God or His Word.

ALL they're interested in is AVOIDING HELL, and getting their daily dose of RELIGIOUS ENTERTAINMENT.

No wonder so-called "Christian" TV is so corrupt.

No wonder cyberspace is TEEMING with religious misinformation.

No wonder both are filled with charlatans and scammers.

No wonder, they regularly MAKE A MOCKERY of the Jesus they claim to serve and His TRUE Gospel.

No wonder Jesus Himself told us THAT THE FIRST AND FOREMOST SIGN of the end of the age WAS DECEPTION (Matthew 24:4).

He didn't say people would come in Satan's name and deceive us.

He said MANY would come IN HIS NAME and deceive us.

He warned that the NUMBER ONE sign of the end of the age would be PRETEND Christians.

They'd tell us what they present is "Bible doctrine". They'd tell us that what they present is "Bible prophecy", WHEN NONE OF IT IS EVEN FOUND IN the Bible.

The few scriptures that they quote are either quoted out of context, incompletely, or altogether DISTORTED.

Dumb sheep keep going after ravenous wolves that come to us in sheep's clothing.

But for the Grace of God it's only a matter of time, before the wolves DEVOUR THEM.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

SOUL SLEEP

Soul sleep is A FALSE DOCTRINE put forth by many cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses, United Church of God, Mormons, Christadelphians and Seventh Day Adventists.

It basically teaches that there is NO HELL, and no lake of fire, and that those who die remain in a state of unconsciousness until the final resurrection, in which the "righteous" (i.e., those who belong to their cult) are resurrected and the "unrighteous" (everyone outside their cult) just stay dead forever.

Does the Bible support this absurd doctrine? NO WAY.

For starters, it suggests that Jesus came down, subjected Himself to all that horrible suffering, beating, lashing, crowned with thorns, thrust through with a spear, crucifixion, and three days and nights in hell itself, to save us from a "nonexistent" hell, or from JUST staying dead [hence unconscious] forever.

Sorry, cultists, but if THE WORST that can happen to an unrepentant sinner is JUST that he dies and stays dead and unaware of any suffering forever, THEN JESUS PAID AN EXCESSIVE, and UNNECESSARY PRICE to redeem us from JUST that.

Jesus spoke about hell more than anyone else in the Bible, and repeatedly warned about going there.

In Mark 9:47,48 He said "...It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched".

In Matthew 25:41 He said "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.

Question: if the lost simply "cease to exist" WHY would the fire be ETERNAL?

Then, of course, there's Luke 16:23-27 where Jesus said: "The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was IN TORMENT, he looked up and SAW Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am TORMENTED in this fire.'

Does that sound to you like this man was peacefully asleep and unaware of his surroundings?

Dear God, he was SO TORMENTED and SO AWARE that he begs Abraham to send someone to his brothers who are still alive on earth TO WARN THEM NOT TO GO THERE.

For good measure, there's Revelation 14:9-11: "A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand... He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

Does that sound to you like these people have CEASED TO EXIST? Does it sound like they're asleep and blissfully unconscious of any suffering? Give me a break!

The ONLY REASON the Bible refers to the dead as "sleeping" [Luke 8:52; 1 Corinthians 15:6), is because death resembles sleep in the sense that the body lies down, when it's buried, AS IF it were asleep, then "wakes up" when it's resurrected.

It's speaking FIGURATIVELY, NOT literally.

No pun intended, but those who promote the doctrine of "soul sleep" are in for A VERY RUDE "awakening".

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

UNHOLY ALLIANCE

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will DEPART FROM THE FAITH and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron" (1 Tim 4:1,2)

I’m old enough to remember the days when the TBN network denounced Mormonism for what it is, a DECEIVING, SATANIC CULT leading millions to hell.

I remember when a so-called Messianic Jew was permanently banned from TBN -- AND RIGHTLY SO -- for denying Jesus’ Deity. My… oh my, how times have changed!

I remember when, in spite of some of their over-the-top antics, their number one priority was to preach the Gospel.

That was SEVERAL DECADES AGO.

That was before the younger generation of Crouches and the mother of all silicone enhanced, triple wigged, pink haired buffoons began to exert more and more influence on programming.

That was BEFORE SOOTHSAYERS and “prosperity preachers” began invading the network.

That was BEFORE they SOLD OUT to the god of Mammon.

That was BEFORE their priority changed from SOUL WINNING to FUND RAISING and BECOMING SUPER-WEALTHY at dumb Christians’ expense.

Despite all the excesses and false doctrine the network regularly flaunts, I never thought I’d see the day when the COMPROMISE would GO SO FAR AS to include the PROMOTION OF RELIGIOUS CULTS.

…Cults which DENY the BASIC tenets of the Christian faith.

Under the FALSE pretense of “restoring courage” and “taking a stand for Israel”, TBN is now PROMOTING AND ABOUT TO AIR, the self-serving religious exploits of Mormon cult member and ex-Fox News commentator Glenn Beck.

The member of a cult that DENIES the Deity of Jesus…

The member of a cult that DENIES the ABSOLUTE authority of Scripture and ADDS THREE books filled with lies invented by a heretic named Joseph Smith that CONTRADICT the Bible.

Someone should remind TBN of what Proverbs 30:6 says.

The member of a cult that threatens and places curses on those who DARE receive Jesus in earnest and abandon their satanic snare. (For the personal testimony of a former Mormon, go here):

The member of a cult that teaches that Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers.

The member of a cult that DENIES THE VIRGIN BIRTH…

That teaches God was a natural man and that Jesus was conceived by him having NATURAL INTERCOURSE with Mary.

I could go on and on…

It’s downright REVOLTING when so-called “Christian” leaders not only coddle but PROMOTE, and give FREE AIR TIME to, A CULT member.

Just because they may share SOME of the POLITICAL views this clown endorses,DOES NOT MEAN that they should SELL OUT their FAITH, let alone THEIR LORD.

If anyone reading this is a TBN supporter, I’d think it over AT LEAST 10 TIMES -- and have A LONG, SINCERE, HEART-TO-HEART WITH MY LORD AND SAVIOR -- BEFORE I SEND THOSE COMPROMISING TRAITORS ANOTHER DIME.

I’m ALL for standing with Israel. I’m ALL for supporting Israel. But has Evangelical Christianity become SO DECREPIT that we have to depend on a CULT MEMBER to do so?

You might remember that Beck also held a rally recently in Washington, D.C. where “Christian celebrities” such as John Hagee, David Barton and James Robison stood with Beck shoulder to shoulder.

That time, it was under the pretense of “standing for America”.

How “convenient” that all this is happening as Beck launches a new network, which is getting loads of free publicity from these religious whores.

As if we didn’t have ENOUGH DECEPTION in Christendom already…

By their accommodating attitude, so-called “Christian” leaders are LEGITIMIZING A CULT and BLURRING the lines between real, Bible-based Christianity and Christ-CONTRADICTING HERESY.

Unlike dumb, ineffective Evangelicals, Mormons are highly trained and INDOCTRINATED into their cult.

God only knows HOW MANY naive, uninformed, biblically illiterate Christians will fall prey to this DECEPTION, by believing that Mormons are “Christian brothers”, that it’s O.K. to fellowship with them, that it’s O.K. to attend Mormon temples, read Mormon literature or LEARN THEIR DOCTRINE, when they see their own supposed “leaders” kowtowing to them.

It’s a TRAGIC day in the Kingdom of God, when His people CAN NO LONGER DIFFERENTIATE between THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS and THEIR FAITH.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

INTERNATIONAL

Today I want to say a special word to our readers around the world.

We've always had readers in English speaking countries like England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

But to Jesus' eternal glory, our ministry now reaches the entire Spanish speaking world (Spain and Latin America), as well countries around the globe.

It blesses us greatly to hear from brothers and sisters of "every nation, kindred and tongue".

The family of God extends all around this globe. We may be separated by geography, but we are ALL ONE in Spirit.

We are One with Jesus, who lives in us, and WITH EACH OTHER.

Man may have invented all kinds of barriers to separate us, such as religion, denominations and political regimes, but I want to assure you that the Body of Christ is One.Every member in the Body is precious to God.

Every one of you is precious to me, as well.

Every member of His Body will go in the Rapture (Revelation 7:9).

How I look forward to that Day when we ALL gather before His Throne to praise and exalt our Jesus!

I wish I could speak to each of you in your native language and convey the Love our Wonderful Lord has for you.

I may not be able to speak your native tongue intellectually, but the Spirit within me speaks all languages and transcends all geopolitical, social, cultural and linguistic barriers.

Glory to Jesus forever!

We are here TO SERVE your spiritual needs.

So, from the bottom of my heart, LOVING GREETINGS TO EACH OF YOU.

Welcome into the Kingdom of God, the family of God, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome to christconnection.net

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

10 YEARS AGO TODAY

Whoever you are, wherever you live, 9/11 is a date you'll always remember.

It was 10 years ago that 19 evil men, all instruments of Satan, hijacked two commercial airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center in N.Y. and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, taking the lives of 2,974 victims, from more than 70 countries, along with their own wretched lives, in the greatest terrorist attack our nation has ever witnessed.

The incident sent shockwaves throughout America and the entire world.

Since that fateful day, our nation and the world have never been the same.

In many ways it seems like it was only yesterday. It's hard to believe a whole decade has passed.

Since then, the masterminds, like Bin Laden and Kalid Sheik Mohammed, have either been killed or taken prisoner.

But their dastardly deed has left a permanent scar in our nation's psyche.

9/11 was a wake-up call to slumbering America.

The Sunday after 9/11, churches in the increasingly secular U.S.A. were filled to capacity. But the sudden "turning to God" didn't last long.

All that remained of the once impressive Twin Towers in the aftermath of 9/11 were some steel beams in the shape of a cross.

You'd think our people WOULD HAVE "gotten the message".

It's rather ironic that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has arbitrarily decided to altogether BAN God from the ceremonies commemorating 9/11, by making it an empty, meaningless, SECULAR event, and EXCLUDING all forms of prayer as well as clergy.

It's even more ironic that, at services to be held at our National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and to be attended by our President, there will be Buddhist nuns, as well as Muslim Imams, but NOT ONE representative of the Evangelical Christian faith is scheduled to participate.

God, however, HAD THE LAST WORD, since a giant crane inexplicably fell right next to the Cathedral, leaving the shape OF A GIANT CROSS as a not-so-subtle reminder of what made America great in the first place.

It's a sad day when a nation founded by Christians, and where 87% of the population adheres to the Christian faith in one form or another, MINORITIES such as Buddhists (3%) and Muslims (0.6%) are represented and OUR FAITH, the faith of our Founding Fathers, ISN'T.

It's a sad, SAD DAY for our nation... in more ways than one.

As we re-live this somber day in American history, we mourn the victims; we remember their families, the survivors, and the heroes of 9/11.

We honor the memory of Todd ("let's roll") Beamer, a Christian brother, and the brave men and women of United Airlines flight 93 who TOOK THE DRASTIC DECISION TO END THEIR OWN LIVES by attacking the highjacking terrorists and crashing the plane into an empty field in Philadelphia, in order to SAVE OTHER LIVES and thwart the terrorist plan which, apparently, intended to crash the plane into the White House.

That was an act of TREMENDOUS courage and selflessness, which no red-blooded American can EVER forget.

We thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for protecting our nation and keeping us safe since that awful, tragic morning.

It appears that, THE ONLY THING that will shake our nation out of its spiritual stupor is A SUPER-RUDE AWAKENING.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011

DON'T REND YOUR GARMENTS

When the Church is raptured and Jesus appears in the sky, most of Israel will turn to the Lord.

Not only will they SEE HIM coming in the clouds, to receive us unto Himself, as He promised, but the sudden ABSENCE of millions [hopefully, billions] of born-again believers will convince even the most stubborn, stiff-necked Jew, that the Jesus they rejected is not only their long-awaited Messiah, but is Yahweh manifested in flesh. It is then that Jews will "rend their hearts, and not their garments" [Joel 2:11-13] in REPENTANCE.

It's that GREAT JOLT OF CONSCIENCE that'll galvanize them to rebuild their temple, guided and defended by the Two Witnesses, Moses and Elijah.

That climactic event will cause them to "weep between the porch and the altar", and to beg God to "spare your people" and to "not give your heritage to reproach" [Joel 2:17].

When Antichrist shows up, resurrected from the dead, most nations will willingly submit to his rule, except Israel.

Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:7 indicate that the saints [including Jews, who've turned to the Lord] will be given into his hand for three and a half years. Daniel 12:7 tells us the Antichrist will get to rule the world for 3½ years, WHEN the power of the holy people [Israel] has been SHATTERED.

This means that the Antichrist, true to his reputation as the greatest military genius in history, will accomplish what no one else has, since Israel's rebirth in 1948:

But if Antichrist leads a military operation against the Jews, IN THEIR OWN LAND, their nuclear weapons are useless, because they can't deploy them without destroying themselves, and wiping tiny Israel off the map, in the process. When Antichrist attacks Israel, Israel will lose. He will achieve what Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, Sudan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia TOGETHER, couldn't do in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. What Egypt, Syria and Jordan couldn't do in the 1967 Six-Day War.

And what Egypt and Syria couldn't accomplish in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Antichrist will defeat Israel's armies, take Jerusalem, enter the recently rebuilt temple, proclaim himself God, and erect a statue of himself there. This will be the "abomination of desolation" that both, Jesus and Daniel, spoke of.

Jews, who are by then believers in Yeshua, will heed His warning, and flee into the wilderness [Matthew 24:15-22; Revelation 12:6,14].

While in hiding, they will remember and revisit the words of their prophet Daniel, where all this was predicted.

They will KNOW the Messiah will return, and rescue them, in 3½ years.

They will be eagerly anticipating, and desiring His Return, with all their hearts. They will mourn and wail for Him as one does for an only son [Zechariah 12:10].

Their former stiff-neckedness and hardness of heart will be replaced with contriteness and repentance.

This time, instead of yelling "crucify Him", THEY'LL BE SHOUTING "BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD".

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

GOD TOLD ME TO TELL YOU

"But any prophet who FALSELY CLAIMS to speak in my Name or who speaks in the name of another god must die" (Deuteronomy 18:20).

Thank God we no longer live under law, but under Grace. If we were still under law, there would be DEAD Christians everywhere. If you've been Christian, even for a short time, chances are somebody's approached you, or will approach you, saying "I have a word (or message) for you from the Lord", or "God told me to tell you [whatever]", or "God showed me that you're supposed to do thus and so".

Many naive Christians have been manipulated, taken advantage of, misled, and even had their lives ruined, by false prophets.

Some have altogether lost their peace, and the joy of their Salvation because of a false message delivered by a false prophet (or prophetess), purportedly in the Name of God, WHICH GOD NEVER SPOKE.

How should you handle these situations? Should you believe those who claim to have "heard God" on your behalf?

The Bible clearly teaches there is such thing as the office of prophet. It also mentions the gift of prophecy (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10,11).

There are people who have a genuine call of God to minister in such fashion. These people, however, are VERY FEW and VERY rare.

Most self-proclaimed "prophets" and "prophetesses" today, especially the most visible ones, have no more calling of God on their lives than Elmer Gantry.

They are nothing but a bunch of greedy, manipulating, self-serving, glorified charlatans.

When one of these "prophets" or "prophetesses" stands in front of a TV camera and tells you (the audience, everyone watching) that "God told them" to tell you that "you have three days to get your offering in the mail",THEY ARE LYING. They no more heard from God than I heard from Napoleon.

How do you distinguish one from the other?

One way you can tell a true prophet or prophetess of God from a false one, is by their lifestyle.

The office of prophet in the Bible was neither lucrative nor glamorous. True prophets were often subjected to all forms of scorn, abuse, mockery, persecution. They lived pretty scant and perilous lives.

Isaiah was sawn in half by evil king Manasseh. Jeremiah was thrown into a muddy cistern for days, and almost died of asphyxiation, starvation and thirst, Ezekiel was taken into captivity [slavery], and Daniel was exiled and later thrown into a lion's den.

Take John the Baptist: According to Jesus there was "no greater prophet than John" (Luke 7:28).

He lived in the hot, dry, barren desert, wore camel skin (no doubt somewhat smelly, ugly and not very fashionable), and survived by eating wild honey and locusts, which are desert insects, whose flesh resembles worms. How'd you like to dine on "desert locusts in green sauce"?

Balaam tried to prophesy falsely against Israel to get Balak's monetary rewards.

The false prophets and soothsayers in Babylon lived in the king's palace while wonderful, precious Daniel was falsely accused and persecuted for his faith.

The false prophets of Baal lived comfortable lives and sat at Queen Jezebel's table, while Elijah, the true prophet of God, had to go into hiding and have his meals delivered by raven express.

False prophets have always outnumbered true prophets.

Another way of distinguishing a true prophet from a false prophet is his or her track record. Does this person have A PROVEN, VERIFIABLE HISTORY OF PROPHESYING ACCURATELY? Have their "words" and prophecies been fulfilled in exact detail?

Another way to tell if the "prophecy" is true is, does it witness to your spirit? Does the inner man of the spirit concur with it, or does it reject it?

Finally, there's the "Word" test. And this is the most important test of all. Does the message the prophet delivered concur with, or does it CONTRADICT God's Word?

If it CONTRADICTS God's Word in the least, REJECT IT IMMEDIATELY! It's false, because God never, ever contradicts Himself.

ALL PROPHECY must be judged by, and subjected to, God's Holy Word, which is Ultimate Truth.

So, when SOME CHRISTIAN comes to you with a "word from God", BE VERY SKEPTICAL. WHY would God go thru a "third party"?

God CAN AND WILL speak directly to you. You are, after all, His child. He may go through others occasionally, but those occasions are VERY, VERY rare.

In most instances, the ONLY ONES who got messages through third parties were kings or people who held some high, influential rank, such as political and/or spiritual leaders, or THE CHURCH AT LARGE.

Contrary to what you watch on "Christian" TV, most ordinary INDIVIDUALS DO NOT - repeat, DO NOT - receive messages through so-called "prophets" or from other Christians.

So, when another believer, or a supposed "man or woman of God", comes to you with a "message" or "word"supposedly from God, don't be too quick or eager to "receive" it. Submit it to these four tests: lifestyle, track record, witness of the Spirit, and above all, God's Holy, Perfect Word.

If it fails ANY of these tests, dismiss it, reject it. It's NOT from God.

Seek God DIRECTLY, and get on with your life!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

WHY I'M GOING TO HEAVEN

I don't know about you, but I'm so excited about going to heaven and seeing my Lord.

...So thrilled at the prospect of spending eternity with Him.

I can hardly wait.

So, HOW DO I KNOW I'm going?

Is it because I minister the word daily to thousands?

No.

Is it because Jesus called me personally into the ministry?

He did, but that's NOT the reason.

Is it because I was allowed to reveal the identity of the Antichrist?

No.

Is it because the Holy Spirit opened His Word and revealed THE YEAR of Jesus' Second Coming?

No.

Is it because the Lord gave me irrefutable proof about the pre-trib rapture? ...Or about debunking religious legalism?

No.

Is it because I'm better or "holier" than anyone else?

Heavens, no!

Is it because I study and meditate God's Word? No.

Could it be because I follow the law, or the 10 Commandments?

Not a chance.

How about because I observe the WEEKLY Sabbath?

Nope.

Is it because I always act properly and speak properly?

Puh-lease!

It is because I belong to a certain denomination?

No. I belong to the ENTIRE Body of Christ.

...Perhaps because I'm infallible and never make mistakes?

C'mon! You KNOW me better than that.

Is it because I have perfect doctrine?

Nah, that's not it.

Is it because I never sin?

I wish...

Is it, perhaps, because I'm a "good person"?

Hate to disappoint you, but NO.

There's ONLY ONE reason I'm going to heaven.

There's ONLY ONE reason ANYONE goes to heaven:

That ONE REASON is because I KNOW Jesus.

I KNOW Him personally, intimately and TOTALLY.

He LIVES IN my heart.

He's the LOVE OF MY LIFE.

That's THE ONLY REASON I'll go to heaven.

That's THE ONLY REASON YOU will go to heaven.

Invite Him... Receive Him... KNOW Him.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

THE FIRST RESURRECTION

Another argument often raised by post-tribulationists has to do with "the FIRST resurrection" mentioned in Revelation 20:4.

Because there's a resurrection of the dead that takes place at the Rapture, they hypothesize that the "first resurrection" refers to the Rapture of believers, and that this "proves" it takes place at the end of the tribulation, when the Millennium starts.

While it's true that there will be a resurrection of the "dead in Christ" at the Rapture, they are then CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH LIVING believers to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)

Those who take part in the "first resurrection" ARE NOT CAUGHT UP AT ALL, but remain HERE ON EARTH to reign with Jesus (Revelation 20:4).

So, right off the bat, we see that they CANNOT BE the same resurrection.

Furthermore, post-tribbers confuse "Rapture" with "Resurrection".

They are, in fact, two different things.

The Greek word for what is commonly referred to as "the Rapture" is harpazo which means to SUDDENLY SEIZE, or SNATCH.

The word for "resurrection" is anastasis which literally means to STAND UP, to RISE, or TO STAND AGAIN.

At the Rapture, there is a resurrection of "the dead in Christ", but there are also MILLIONS, if not BILLIONS, who ARE CAUGHT UP (SNATCHED) ALIVE to meet Jesus in the air as clearly expressed in 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17, also in 1 Corinthians 15:50-55.

The "FIRST" resurrection described in Revelation 20:4 is STRICTLY that of TRIBULATION MARTYRS, who come to faith in Jesus during the reign of Antichrist and are killed for their faith, as clearly described in that passage.

NO ONE IS CAUGHT UP TO MEET JESUS IN THE AIR at the so-called "FIRST" resurrection.

The "rest of the dead" in Revelation 20:5 refers to the UNSAVED DEAD, who are not raised until THE END OF the Millennium and get tossed into the lake of fire, or SECOND DEATH (Revelation 20:13-15).

So the term "FIRST resurrection", IN CONTEXT, refers to the first resurrection OF THE MILLENNIUM, since it takes place AT THE START thereof. It is STRICTLY FOR TRIBULATION MARTYRS, who reign with Jesus 1,000 years.

Likewise, the "SECOND resurrection" or "SECOND death" is the SECOND resurrection OF THE MILLENNIUM, it's strictly for the UNSAVED, and takes place AT THE END of the Millennium (Revelation 20:13-15).

The term "FIRST resurrection" CANNOT POSSIBLY MEAN "the first resurrection EVER", since I can name, off the top of my head, AT LEAST NINE resurrections that have taken place PRIOR TO that one:

7. Many Old Testament saints that arose when Jesus rose (Matthew 27:52).

8. The resurrection of the "dead in Christ" at the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

9. The resurrection of the Two Witnesses during the tribulation (Revelation 11:11, 12).

So, to say that the term "First resurrection" which is CLEARLY USED IN REFERENCE TO THE MILLENNIUM, is the same as the Resurrection of the "dead in Christ" at the Rapture, or the same as the Rapture, simply DOESN'T STAND UP TO BIBLICAL SCRUTINY. It's NOT the first "group resurrection" either, since it was preceded by the resurrection of MANY Old Testament saints when Jesus arose, as stated in item #7 above.

To sum up:

Current believers, who are ALIVE when the Rapture happens, ARE TAKEN TO HEAVEN ALIVE BEFORE the tribulation begins (Revelation 7:9).

Tribulation saints who SURVIVE are Raptured PRIOR TO the end of the tribulation (Revelation 15:2).

Tribulation saints who DIE (martyrs) are not raptured AT ALL, but RESURRECTED at THE START OF the Millennium ("first resurrection", Revelation 20:4).

Unbelievers are raised at THE END OF the Millennium ("second resurrection") and are tossed into the lake of fire or second death (Revelation 20:15).

There's NO WAY in heaven, hell, or earth, that the "first resurrection" can be THE SAME AS the Rapture.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

BRITISH ISRAELISM

The doctrine of so-called British Israelism has been around for a long time. It was INVENTED in the 17th century by British heretics, and popularized in the 50's thru 80's by that infamous false prophet named Herbert W. Armstrong, who is now in the flames of hell.

I've been dealing with it, debating the misguided fanatics who follow this lunacy, and DENOUNCING IT, for a LONG time.

British Israelism is one of the many MYTHS that come to us under the guise of "biblical prophecy".

They have religious infomercials on TV which CLAIM to teach "Bible prophecy".

Again I ask, HOW can something BE "Bible prophecy" WHEN IT'S NOT FOUND IN the Bible?

There are many denominations that promote Armstrong's lies to UNSUSPECTING Christians, like the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), the so-called "United Church of God" (UCG), the so-called "Restored Church of God" (RCG) or the so-called Philadelphia Church of God (PCG), as well as their FALSE PROPHETS like Gerald Flurry and David Pack.

Never ceases to amaze me how some Evangelicals run into a YouTube video produced by these liars, or some website or blog that promotes their false doctrine, and thinks he or she has had this "epiphany" when, in fact, they're watching or reading FALSE doctrine, NOT SUPPORTED BY the Bible, from A CULT.

The false doctrine of British Israelism basically states that ONLY English speaking people are the TRUE Israelites mentioned in the Bible and that Queen Elizabeth II, or whichever monarch occupies the British throne, is a direct descendant of King David.

There is NOTHING in the ENTIRE Bible that supports, let alone PROVES, such nonsense.

Likewise, there is NOTHING in credible, reputable, DOCUMENTED secular history that supports, let alone PROVES, such nonsense.

NO ONE denies that 10 of the 12 tribes, became dispersed in 721 B.C. when the Assyrians conquered the Kingdom of Israel and took them captive, leaving only the Kingdom of Judah in the South.

Where exactly those 10 tribes are today is KNOWN ONLY to God.

In chapters 36-40 of the Book of Ezekiel God promises to bring them back into the Land of Israel during the Millennium.

So, the world has lost track of them, God hasn't.

Consequently, to claim they are EXCLUSIVELY the English speaking people of the world, to claim EXCLUSIVE Anglo-Saxon Israelism, LACKS ANY BIBLICAL OR HISTORICAL BASIS.

Cases in point: in recent years there have been Israelites from places like Ethiopia and India coming back into Israel because they have a long-standing tradition of being descendants of one of the 10 "lost" tribes.

In Spain and Portugal there are millions of people who descend from one or more of the so-called "10 lost tribes".

It's HISTORIC FACT that many displaced Israelites relocated to, and flourished, in Spain and Portugal, at least until the Spanish Inquisition in 1478, and until they were kicked out of Spain in 1492.

They are called the Sephardim.

There are also many people with Israelite roots in Eastern Europe: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, etc. They are called the Ashkenazim.

So, this theory is FALSE, RACIST, anti-Semite, BASELESS and UNSCRIPTURAL.

Although the 10 northern tribes became dispersed the TWO southern tribes of Israel -- namely Benjamin and Judah -- WERE MOST DEFINITELY NOT.

The TWO tribes in the Kingdom of Judah were taken into exile by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., but THEY RETURNED TO ISRAEL 70 years later as both the Bible and secular history confirm (Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:2).

They are just as Israelite as the other 10 tribes. And they, together with some Levites, comprise most of the population of the modern State of Israel, WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT.

Of course, you'll NEVER HEAR THAT from any Armstrongnist, because it DEBUNKS their very FLAWED and elitist theory.

British Israelism is A CULT.

Armstrongnists don't lead ANYONE to Christ.

They teach THE LIE that Jesus' Blood and the Grace of God AREN'T ENOUGH. That WORKS, such as Sabbath keeping and 10 Commandment keeping are NECESSARY for Salvation.

Their doctrine leads people STRAIGHT TO HELL. That's why it's thoroughly denounced by THIS ministry and on THIS website.

If I were you, I'd stay as far away from Armstrongnists as possible.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

CATHOLICS LOVE JESUS

"These six things does the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and HE THAT SOWS DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN" (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Being raised Roman Catholic, and being ALL about bringing people to faith in Jesus, I find that most Evangelicals, though well intentioned, REALLY BLOW IT when it comes to sharing the Gospel with Catholics.

There are MANY Catholics who are saved. Just like there are many Evangelicals who know Jesus.

Are ALL Catholics saved? No.

Are ALL so-called Evangelicals saved? No.

So, religious affiliation and denomination have NOTHING to do with Salvation.

Repeat: Denomination has NOTHING TO DO WITH Salvation.

Salvation is Jesus Christ. Those who HAVE Jesus LIVING IN their hearts are saved. Those who DON'T HAVE Jesus are lost (1 John 5:12).

Unfortunately, Evangelicals' usual approach is to criticize Catholicism, accuse Catholics of being "idolaters" and tell them they're NOT "real" Christians.

I've had many an Evangelical tell me "I'm not Catholic, I'm Christian". Conversely, as recently as last week, I had someone tell me "I'm not Christian, I'm Catholic" because some idiotic Evangelicals had told them that Catholics aren't Christian.

Another MYTH I want to destroy, which I've often heard, is the notion that because Catholics use crucifixes instead of plain crosses, that they regard Jesus as still being dead and hanging from the cross.

That is simply false.

There were crucifixes and pictures of Jesus hanging from the cross ALL OVER our VERY Catholic home, and NEVER in my entire life, have I viewed Jesus, or has anyone in my family regarded Him, as being "still dead, hanging from the cross".

That is a BLATANT, UNFAIR LIE spawned by Satan, the father of lies.

As early as age 5, I had been taught, AND KNEW, that Jesus had died for my sins and RISEN from the dead.

I have NEVER KNOWN a Roman Catholic who DOESN'T believe in the BODILY Resurrection of our Lord.

To say otherwise is SHEER IGNORANCE.

So, please, brothers and sisters, STOP spreading that LIE.

If you want to bring Catholics to INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE of the Savior, don't criticize their religion, don't call them idolaters, don't tell them to stop worshiping this saint or that saint, don't criticize their lighting of candles, their medals, or their rosaries. Don't tell them they must forsake Catholicism and CHANGE religions. And, please, DON'T TELL THEM THEY'RE NOT Christian.

Simply tell them that since they ARE Christian, since they ALREADY BELIEVE IN JESUS AND LOVE JESUS, they need to EXPERIENCE Jesus.

They need to EXPERIENCE His Presence INSIDE THEMSELVES by inviting Him into their hearts.

They need to EXPERIENCE Him intimately and personally. It's the greatest, most thrilling Experience in the entire world, bar none.

Then lead them in a simple, heartfelt prayer to do JUST THAT.

When approached THAT WAY, they offer NO RESISTANCE.

Salvation -- for Catholics or ANYONE ELSE -- is NOT for them to forsake their religion, but to KNOW Jesus and be born again (John 3:3-5).

Once Jesus takes residence in their hearts, it's up to Him and His Holy Spirit to show that person whether they should remain where they are, or CHANGE ANYTHING.

There are devout Roman Catholics in my own family who KNOW Jesus, have been born again, and are just as saved as ANY OTHER Christian.

They attend Mass every Sunday, and are practicing Roman Catholics.

But what about Catholic history? What about some of the atrocities that have been committed in the past by the RCC and its hierarchy?

Well, WHAT about them?

We CAN'T change the past. We can't change what's ALREADY happened.

What we CAN change is the HERE AND NOW.

Do you want to LIVE IN THE PAST? Do you want to RETURN TO THE DARK AGES? Do you want to hold TODAY'S Catholics responsible for what SOME out of control Catholics did 500, 700, or 1,000 years ago?

If you do, then YOUR ENTIRE MOTIVATION must be called into question.

Are you MORE INTERESTED in ACCUSING Catholics and beating them over the head with what someone in their denomination did AGES AGO, or are you MORE INTERESTED in bringing THEM to Christ?

Ultimately, THAT'S what it boils down to.

Sharing Jesus with others is a GREAT and very precious PRIVILEGE.

Let's not blow it with silly religious prejudice or obsolete tactics that have brought nothing but hatred, discord and division among brethren.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2011

SECOND COMING IN 2018?

We keep getting this question based on the fact that if you count 49 365-day Gregorian years from 1969 you do indeed arrive at 2018.

I assume it also has something to do with the fact we're less than 7 years away from 2017.

2017 isn't even here, and they're already discarding it in favor of 2018. My answer is NO.

God has NEVER used ANY calendar other than His own. He uses the calendar that He Himself designed and gave to the Israelites (Exodus 12:2).

God's prophetic calendar is lunar and based on a 360-day year as clearly demonstrated in these Scriptures (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 11:3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).

The fact we're less than 7 years from 2017 and the Rapture hasn't happened, doesn't mean Jesus is "late" or that His Second Coming's been postponed.

As I've shared in recent messages the 7-year tribulation, which I myself believed in until recently, can now be called a MYTH.

Come to think of it, I need to make it Myth #62 on the Home page.

There's NO SUCH THING (thank God!) as a 7-year tribulation.

There is a 7-years period which precedes the Millennium -- AND WE'RE IN IT RIGHT NOW-- WHICH BEGINS WITH THE BIRTHPANGS (started in December, 2010), followed by the Rapture, the tribulation judgments and the reign of Antichrist.

We DON'T KNOW the exact number of days the birthpangs last, since the Scriptures don't tell us.

Likewise, we DON'T KNOW the exact number of days the tribulation lasts. The Scriptures don't tell us that, either.

We do know that the reign of Antichrist takes up 3½ of the 7 years (Revelation 13:5).

We do know the tribulation lasts LONGER THAN 3½ years (Revelation 8:2).

We also know that after Antichrist's 42 months are up, there's a 75-day transition period into the Millennium which is also PART OF the 7-year period.

When we count 49 Hebrew, lunar, 360-day years (or 17,640 days) from 1969, we arrive at the fall of 2017, NOT 2018.

I don't see how ANYONE can make a credible case for 2018 based on Daniel 9:25.

If anything, I can make a VERY CREDIBLE case for 2016 (a year earlier than anticipated).

Why 2016? Because when the FIRST decree to return a build Jerusalem was given, all it took was THE WORD of King Artaxerxes. There was no deliberating body; there was NO VOTE (Nehemiah 2:1).

I used the Knesset vote on April 1, 1969 because it's a matter of public record, it cleared the way for actual reconstruction to begin, and because it's the LAST date that could be construed as "THE WORD" being given.

The prophecy in Daniel 9:25 merely states: "From THE WORD to return and build Jerusalem to Messiah Prince shall be 7 weeks"...

That "WORD" came as early as June 8, 1967 when former Prime Minister David Ben Gurion said "we now control Jerusalem and that is one of the greatest of events - one of the first things that must be done is build neighborhoods - TO IMMEDIATELY SETTLE the Jewish Quarter. If there are empty Arab houses, we'll put Jews in them".

Sounds like "return and build" to me.

As early as June 19, 1967 Arabs were being evicted from the Jewish quarter, to make room for its new, rightful Jewish residents.

While actual reconstruction didn't begin until 1969, the restoration of basic living necessities such as water, sewage, lighting, and other infrastructure, began shortly after Jerusalem's liberation, in June 1967.

I took all this into consideration and used 2017 as the LAST possible year Jesus' Second Coming could happen based on this prophecy.

If current events are any indication, Jesus' prediction is RIGHT ON SCHEDULE for final fulfillment.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2011

GOD'S CALENDAR

We tend to think in terms of the Gregorian ("Christian") calendar, the Hebrew calendar, the Mayan calendar, the Aztec calendar, the Inca calendar, the Chinese calendar, the Islamic calendar.

Bet you didn't know that God has HIS OWN calendar.

In fact, it was God who GAVE the children of Israel their calendar, told them when the year should begin, when each month should begin, what Feasts they were to observe, and how (Exodus 12:2, Leviticus chapters 23-25).

Unfortunately, even Israelites today, with the possible exception of Karaite Jews, DO NOT follow His calendar precisely but approximately, based on calculations.

Unfortunately, there are a number of years "missing" from both Karaite and rabbinic calendars.

God's Calendar always begins IN THE SPRING.

The beginning of the year for God HAS ALWAYS been in the month of Aviv (or Nisan, as it became known during the Babylonian captivity) which corresponds with March/April in the Christian calendar.

Wait it a minute, I thought the Jewish New Year was Rosh Hashanah, which takes place in the fall.

NO. Rabbis came up with the idea of a Civil Year and a Religious Year during the Babylonian captivity. That's when they began to refer to Yom Teruah as "Rosh Hashanah" or "Head of the Year".

However, although God ordained this Feast, He never said it should be the beginning of ANY year. NEVER.

God has ALWAYS used, and will ALWAYS use, His calendar.

He won't use anyone else's.

And although His First Coming in human form, forever divided "time" into two distinct sections B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini, or "Year of our Lord"), His calendar, like God Himself, NEVER changes.

Secularists can call it "Common Era" (C.E.) all they want, but the so-called "Common Era" is based ENTIRELY on Jesus' birth, and the so-called B.C.E. (Before Common Era) are the years BEFORE Jesus' birth, like it or not.

God has never used ANY calendar other than the ONE He established.

And His Feasts are called APPOINTED TIMES for a reason.

Those are the moments on God's Calendar that God sovereignly chose for certain prophetic events to unfold.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

DIPLOMACY

If you don't have Jesus in your heart, you're going to hell.

I know that's DIRECT, and sounds harsh, but it's true.

People need to hear the Truth. No use in pussyfooting around, especially when millions are going to hell DAILY.

Ministers today are so beholden to political correctness, so afraid they might "offend" someone, or that they'll be labeled intolerant, that their version of the "gospel" is TIMID, diluted and ineffective.

I got news for the world, the secular media, and fearful Christians: God IS INTOLERANT.

He won't tolerate sin, no matter how hard you try to sugar coat it. No matter how hard you try to call evil "good". No matter how hard you try to make it "socially acceptable".

The Good News, however, is that JESUS ALREADY PAID FOR ALL YOUR SINS.

When we receive Him as Lord, His payment for our sins KICKS IN, and ALL OUR FILTH IS WASHED AWAY... INSTANTLY!

EVERYONE who rejects Jesus as Lord, WILL BE LOST, regardless of what moniker they apply to themselves.

Whether they're CALLED Jews, Muslims, atheists, OR EVEN CHRISTIAN. Do you think everyone who calls himself "Christian" is truly saved? Do you think everyone who uses that label REALLY has had a personal experience with Jesus? Ha!

I personally know Jews who are saved, NOT BECAUSE OF their religion, or lack thereof, but because they have received the Messiah, Jesus Christ, into their hearts. ANYONE who receives Jesus into their heart as Lord is saved. They sins FOREVER ERASED.

ANYONE who DOESN'T is lost.

End of story.

No use in trying to be "diplomatic" about it.

There's NO DIPLOMACY IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS.

When you're burning in hell, you won't be able to send ambassadors into heaven to "negotiate" with God. It'll be too late.

We have ONLY ONE ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, AND HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST.

"Neither is there SALVATION IN ANY OTHER... FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME... GIVEN AMONG MEN,WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED" [Acts 4:12].

Let Jesus handle your case before God, and heaven is a sure thing.

Jesus is the ONLY Salvation there is.

If you receive Him you're saved.

If you reject Him, you're lost.

If you FAIL TO RECEIVE Him, you're lost... even if you've called yourself "Christian" all your life.

Those are FACTS. Deal with them.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

CORRUPT COMMUNICATION

WARNING :Today's message uses VERY blunt language which some may find "offensive". This is a message, however, that organized Christendom DESPERATELY NEEDS TO HEAR. If you are easily offended, feel free to skip it. Otherwise, read at your own risk.

"To the pure, ALL THINGS ARE PURE, but TO THOSE WHO ARE CORRUPT and do not believe, NOTHING is pure. In fact, both THEIR MINDS and consciences ARE CORRUPT" (Titus 1:15).

Let NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of EDIFYING, THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE (undeserved Goodness) to the hearers. And DO NOT GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God, with Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:29, 30).

The Greek word for "corrupt" in this passage is sapros, which means rotten, putrid, or DECAYING.

What IS "corrupt communication"?

Is it using some word which isn't found in the dictionary?

Is it saying some word that the world, or society at large, deems "improper"?

Is it language that fails to conform to man-invented religious norms?

OR, is CORRUPT communication, ANY FORM OF COMMUNICATION WHICH CONTRADICTS the INCORRUPTIBLE Word of God?

According to the Bible, it's the latter (1 Peter 1:23).

This is a message religion hates. That's EXACTLY WHY they NEED TO HEAR IT.

They hate it because IT EXPOSES THEM FOR THE two-faced, devout HYPOCRITES THEY REALLY ARE.

We regularly hear from religionists who take offense at my ONE use of the word "sh*t" on the website, but OVERLOOK 10 webpages crammed full OF BIBLICAL, SPIRIT REVEALED information you can't get (to Jesus be ALL the glory) ANYWHERE ELSE.

They can't see PAST THAT ONE WORD.

They can't see Jesus, they can't see the Gospel, they can't see Salvation, they can't see the BIBLICAL identity of the Antichrist, they can't see the pre-trib rapture, they can't see the Second Coming, they can't even see Salvation by grace and NOT BY WORKS.

All they see is SH*T.

Never mind that THOSE SAME RELIGIONISTS TURN RIGHT AROUND and PAY $10 bucks at the box office to see A MOVIE which repeatedly uses the "F" word, repeatedly uses Jesus' Name IN VAIN, and presents explicit sexual and/or demonic images... AND THINK NOTHING OF IT (Psalms 101:3).

If THAT'S NOT a self-serving, hypocritical double standard, I don't know WHAT IS!!!

Religion would have us believe that ONLY THE LANGUAGE THEY APPROVE OF is "proper" and "non-corrupt".

Religion has ARBITRARILY DECIDED, with their CORRUPT mind, which is IN ENMITY WITH GOD(Romans 8:7), that the word "sh*t" is "bad".

Yet the words "crap", "dung", "feces", "poop", "fecal matter" or "excrement", WHICH MEAN EXACTLY THE SAME THING, are considered "proper".

Such criterion is purely SUBJECTIVE. It's merely the "judgment" or OPINION of their VAIN IMAGINATION.

It's ALL in their CORRUPT minds!!!

By the way, God, THE HOLIEST BEING IN THE UNIVERSE, uses the word "shit" OVER 1,000 TIMES in the Bible! ... With NO ASTERISK!!!

Try TELLING HIM He needs to "clean up" His rhetoric.

Religion has decided that the word "hell", which God also uses repeatedly, is bad, but the words "infernal region", abyss, bottomless pit, Sheol, Hades or Gehenna, which MEAN THE SAME THING, are deemed O.K.

I have one word for organized religion: BULLSHIT!!!

To the pure, as Paul said, ALL THINGS ARE pure (Titus 1:15).

The ONLY TRULY CORRUPT communication is ANY COMMUNICATION that CONTRADICTS God's Holy, INCORRUPTIBLE Word.

Anyone or anything that CONTRADICTS God is A LIAR. He, she, they or it is/are CORRUPT.

Any communication that DOES NOT MINISTER HIS GRACE (UNDESERVED Goodness) IS CORRUPT.

Corrupt communication is ANY communication that GRIEVES God's Holy Spirit because IT CONTRADICTS THE HOLY, INCORRUPTIBLE WORD that He inspired.

Hell is FILLED, even as we speak, with religious hypocrites -- like those who are frowning on this message RIGHT NOW - like those who CAN'T WAIT to fire off a condemning email - who are pretend Christians, who always used "proper" language, but DIDN'T HAVE JESUS IN THEIR HEARTS.

They NEVER used "improper" speech, but THEY NEVER HAD AN INTIMATE, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ONE AND ONLY SAVIOR, either.

And ALL the "proper" religious language in the world, all their tight-@ss judgmental protocol, won't get their sorry behind out of hell.

Or should I say "Hades"?

It's not the language you use that will send you to hell, IT'S NOT HAVING Jesus, THE INCORRUPTIBLE SEED, the WORD INCARNATE, LIVING IN YOUR HEART that'll send you there.

Salvation is NOT about procuring OUR OWN righteousness, by "doing" or "NOT doing", by "saying" or "NOT saying".

Salvation is ALL about acquiring Jesus' Righteousness.

There IS NO RIGHTEOUSNESS ANYWHERE, but His! (Isaiah 64:6).

BEFORE you click the "send" button on your accusatory email, do us both a favor and read the parable of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18:9-14.

Salvation BEGINS when you DROP your own FALSE SENSE OF pharisaical "PROPRIETY" and say, like the publican of old, "Lord, HAVE MERCY ON ME, A NO-GOOD, LOUSY, FILTHY SINNER".